Toboggan



(No Model.)

J. F. FERGUSON.

TOBOGGAN.

No. 350,123. Patented 001;. 5, 1886.

N4 PETERS. Pfioloulhopaphar. wa-mn wn. no.

jccts by the construct ion UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

JAMES F. FERGUSON, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONtl.

TOBOGGAN.

QPE CIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,123, dated October5,1886.

.'\pplicalion lilod March G, 1886. Serial No. ltllpl-I'l. (No model.)

To aZZ whom may concern.-

Be it known that l, Janus 1 Fnnonsox, a citizen of the United States,residing at Burlington, in the county of Ohittenden and State ofVermont, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Toboggansor Coasters, of which the following is a specification, referencebeinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in toboggans or coasters; and theobjects of my improvements are, first, to enable them to more readilyconform to sudden changes in the angle of the inclined planc down whichgravity impels themby constructing them in sections, which are connectedtogether by suitable hinges so made as to allow the several sections tomove freely vertically independent of each other, and, second, toprevent their ends from coming into violent contact with the sides ofthe chute by means of revolving fenders, which. project from the sidesof the vehicle and accomplish their object without any modification ofthe speed or causing any shock to the operator. 1: accomplish these obshown in the acc0m panying drawings, in which- Figure ll. is aperspective view of my toboggan, and Fig. 2 an enlarged view of one ofthe iron straps connecting the sections of the toboggan.

A is the forward section of my toboggan or coaster, preferablyconstructed of metal, with longitudinal corrugations in its undersurface and provided with the usual side bars or rails, l; B, andtransverse cleats O 0. As the angle of the descent of the chute or firstpart of the incline frequently much greater than that of the more levelor remaining portion of the slide in order that the toboggan or coastermay be given the impetus required to carry it the entire length of theslide, the forward end of the toboggan or coaster is forced to strikethe surface of the more level portion of the slide at the pointofintersection of the two planes, often with a force sufficient; tobreak or otherwise damage that portion of the vehicle, and thus greatlyendanger the persons of the occupants. This is particularly liable tooccur to the longer toboggans or coasters, especially if they areheavily loaded.

To overcome this difficulty I construct my toboggan or coaster inscctious,A A, each of which should not exceed three or four feet inlength. The front end of the forward section, A, is curved up- \vardlyin the usual manner, while the front end of the section following isonly turned upward sufficiently far to avoid frictional contact with thesurface of the slide. The two sections are then connected together asclosely as is possible by suitable hinges, which shall allow eachsection to move vertically in either direction independent of eachother.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the hinge in the form ofiron straps a u onthe side of the bars or rails B B, which are secured to their respectivebars by means of bolts 1/ I), which pass through the ends of the strapsa a and the bars I; B, and are held in place by nuts and wash ers it (I,thus pivoting each section to the ends of its respective straps. I donot", however, confine myself to this particular form of hinge, as otherdevices which admit of a free vertical movement of each section may beadopted without affecting the spirit of my invention. By thisarrangement the number of sections may be increased, and thusaccommodate as many persons as is desired or convenient. If, as is oftencustomary, the section is cushioned, the space intervening between eachsection is so slight as not to be noticed.

To guard the ends of the toboggau or coaster from strikingthe sides ofthe chute, and thus prevent injury to any projecting portion of theperson, as well. as the violent turning of the vehicle and possibleoverturning of its load, I attach to the outside ofits extremitiessuitable wheels or rollers, 1) D, so placed that they may be readilyrevolved by coming into contact with the sides of the chute, by means ofwhich the vehicle can be easily directed and retained in its propercourse and the steerer the more easily enabled to closely follow anycurve in the direction of the slide.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A toboggan or coaster constructed in sec tions so hinged togetherthat each section has an independent vertical movement, substan tia'll yas described.

2. A toboggan or coaster consisting of two or more hinged sections, A A,the front-end of each being curved upward sufiiciently to avoidfrictional co'ritact with the siirfac'e of the slide, substantially asspecified.

3. In combination with a toboggan 0r coast- In testimony whereof doaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. FERGUSON.

er, the revolving fenders D D, attached to the \Vitnesses: exteriorsurface of its sides, substantially as CHARLES E. ALLEN, described, andfor the purpose set forth. L. F. \VILBUR.

